The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-09

dlnce at Governors Island. A glance
at the manu- ipt, which has kindly
been permitted by the publishers,
shows thst the fair author has dwelt
particularly upon t. e domestic life OF
the general in simple style but most
entertainingly, and has told many ne v
facts in his career. Her dediCatio /
reads:
TO MY FRIENDS
AND
THR MANY ADMIRERS OF MY HUSBAND
DEDICATE THIS BOOK.
In the preface she writes that she
has yielded with reluctance 10 the ap-
peals made to her for the recital OF
events connected with the earlier
part of her husbands career, and not
contained in the several biographical
sketches that have been published.
She said:
The task is difficult, and, in some
respects, painful to me, but as you,
dear friends, who have shown such
kind persistercy in urging the work
upon me, predict that it will interest
Others as we'll Rs yourselves, l have
resisted my disinclinstion, and will
give the narrative in my own way,
taking your thoughts back to those
happier days before the great storm
that later burst upon the land, had
caught US up in its current, and be-
fore the clouds of personal loss and
deprivation had overshadowed our
lives. My husbands character was
one of such noble simplicity and d.
rectness as to be better illustrated by
his own deeds and utterances than by
auy words that might be written, and
these imperfect recollections of life
that was 80 conspicuously marked by
unselfi5n ambition, great achieve
ments, the purest patriotism ard the
most conscientious adherence to truth
and right at all heard, must derive
their interest from the peraon to
whom they relate, and depend in but
sight measure on the manner of the
telling.
The narrative opens with the begin
ming of their married life and tnen re-
lstes at leUgth their experiences In
Florida, where the general was sent in
1866 10 fight the Seminole Indians,
where Mrs. Hancock was the only
woman at the post. An account OF
the generals ride of 2l00 miles on
mule back from Fort Leaven worth TO
California, earlier in life, is also given,
with extracts OF the journal he kept on
the trip. In 1857 they came North
from Florida and spent several months
in Washington. A graphic picture OF
the social life of the capital at that
time and some interesting personals
are given.
"As 1 refer to those dsys," writes
Mrs. Hancock, $50 rich in m emories
and "reminiscences of men and women
who, at that time, occupied the most
honorable and distinguished positions
in the government, and who were des-
tined to play 30 important part in
the great drama that soon followed, l
may be pardoned il l digress little in
giving them Iassing notice. Miss
Harriet Lane, mistress of the White
House, with her personal charms and
courtly manners, was universal favor
ite, and did great credit to Mr.. Buchan-
ans administration. Mrs. Davis, wife
of the Secretary of War, Jefferson
Davis, whom l we'll remember, was
endowed with many remarkable QuA-
tiles that made her eminently fitted to
be presiding genius, and her enter
tsinments brought together the most
cultivated class of Washington society.
Mrs. Joe Johnston was another shin
ing light in that great capital, pers1n
Of unusual intelligence, quick at re-
partee, which made her most fasei.
mating in co o1versation. Her charming
reunions are long 10 be remem oered
by those who were ad Ditted in this
charmed circle. Our happiness tbat
winter was complete when we left
Washington with sincere regret aud
the most agreeable impressions. How
we'll remember Gen. r jbeFt E. Lee,
then q major, who was stationed there
at that time He was the beau ideal
OF q soldier and q gentleman"
In marked contrast to these DAYS is
the account Of how Mre. Hancock
foand Washington at the outbreak of
the rebellion, when her husband had
Just been made general. She writes:
In accordance witl my husbands
wiskes, / took house in Washington
for the winter, that l might readily
rfash him in case he were wounded
in the battles that were momeutsrily
expected. The cir was full
OF Iumors which sometimes assumed
tremendous proportions, end which
were too frequently credited by thoss
who should have been able to allay
the widespread anxiety. In thsse
soul stirring days offic al aud social
routine we're quite exscting; indeed,
more 30 than ordinarily. Washing.
ton society was extremely diversifi I'd,
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